You can explore Yichun through its forest landscapes, geological collections and regional markets. You can focus on the landscape and its flora and fauna, or compare different ways of discovering nature, history and geological history. The parks also offer a variety of experiences: a winding walkway leads towards a summit, while other sites highlight wood art, stonework or different areas for visitors. These features give you concrete ways to plan your stay around particular themes.
Forest nature and seasonal activities
The description of Xing’an National Forest Park mentions more than 1,300 plant species and over 60 species of rare wild animals. This makes the diversity of nature a clear focus of the park. A 2020 description lists summer rafting and winter skiing as seasonal leisure activities. Before you travel, check whether these activities are available during your visit.
At Nanshan Forest Park, a winding walkway leads towards a summit. This offers a different focus from the seasonal activities at Xing’an National Forest Park: here, the route to the summit is the main attraction, while the other park offers activities for summer and winter. Comparing the two can help you choose between a walkway route and activities tied to different seasons.
Museums: forest history and geological history
An August 2025 municipal visitor report describes plant and animal specimens at the Yichun Forest Museum, including tigers, deer and black bears, complemented by audiovisual effects. Historical photographs, old objects and reconstructed scenes also show how the forest region developed from its early years of establishment to its green transformation. Nature exhibits and historical context are therefore both part of the museum’s profile.
The Yichun Geological Museum has eight exhibition halls. Topics include Yichun’s geological development and rock strata, mineral resources, dinosaur fossils, the origins of Earth and life, fossil animals, the National Geopark and international cooperation in Yichun. The range of topics thus extends from local rock strata to questions about the origins of Earth and life.
The Yichun Museum, also known as the Xiaoxing’anling Dinosaur Museum, is considered a major prefecture-level museum in Heilongjiang and one of China’s prominent dinosaur museums. If you are especially interested in dinosaurs, this museum offers a different focus from the broader range of topics at the Geological Museum. The two museums can therefore be distinguished by their areas of interest, without reducing the geological collections to fossils alone.
Parks combining scenery, craftsmanship and history
Jinxiu Shanshui Park is located in central Yichun and is classified as a Class AAAA scenic area. A 2015 description of the China Lindu Woodcarving Park divides it into eight scenic areas, including a viewing walkway along the river. It describes all the wooden sculptures as being made from high-quality wood from the Xiaoxing’anling Mountains. The park’s layout and the material used for its artworks are both key features.
The Xiaoxing’anling Stone Garden brings together stone inscriptions, stonework and stone sculptures with ornamental stones, as well as flowers and trees from the Xing’an region. Its grounds thus combine cultural and natural elements. Beishan Park is the site of the former political and military training school of the Third and Sixth Armies of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, established in April 1936. This site adds a specific historical connection to a visit to the parks.
A 2020 description of the water park identifies five areas: water activities, relaxed fishing, culture and entertainment, children’s play, and activities for older people. This breakdown shows the different ways to use the same facility, setting it apart from the scenic, craft or historical focuses of the other parks.
Regional products at the markets
There are four large morning and evening markets in central Yichun, including Shenghui Market. A 2018 description of Shenghui Market mentions fresh fruit and vegetables, forest products, stone and wood crafts, and regional snacks. Along with nature and exhibitions, local produce and crafts are therefore another theme to explore in Yichun.
Discover more destinations: Harbin, Greater Khingan Mountains, Jiamusi, Shuangyashan, Heihe, Qiqihar, Daqing, Jixi
For the main travel guide: Heilongjiang.
